What has changed since 1 July 2004?
The biggest change is that the Contracting Governments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention are able to formally exercise of control over ships in accordance with the provisions of chapter XI-2 and of the ISPS Code. At the same time, the Contracting Governments are obliged to address all the objectives and functional requirements of the ISPS Code and to ensure that appropriate security measures and procedures are in place in the port facilities and waterways located within their territory. The new requirements form the international framework through which Governments, ships and port facilities can co-operate to detect and deter acts which threaten security in the maritime transport sector. The new regulatory maritime security regime will have a huge impact for those port facilities and ship operators who had not already taken on board the increased threat to maritime security in the current climate. They will need to catch up, according to the rules and guidelines in the ISPS Code. For those
